ESPN had a double-digit drop in ratings for its first NFL telecast of the preseason.
Thursday’s Panthers/Ravens exhibition game drew a 2.5 U.S. rating and 3.729 million viewers on ESPN, down 19% in ratings and 22% in viewership from Cardinals/Steelers last year, which was a rematch of the Super Bowl (3.1, 4.755 mil), but up 4% and 2%, respectively, from Saints/Cardinals in 2008 (2.4, 3.652 mil).
Panthers/Ravens drew a lower rating and fewer viewers than every preseason game on ESPN last year.
Even with the decline, Thursday’s game outdrew both nationally televised Red Sox/Yankees games last weekend — one on FOX (2.1, 3.250 mil) and the other on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball (2.3, 3.486 mil).
Additionally, the telecast drew a higher rating than three of the eight regular season NFL games on NFL Network last season.
